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Tipped in is an autograph letter signed by John Ericsson presenting the book to Henry Worthington. New York, Sept. 27, 1880. “I beg of you to accept this accompanying volume as a rembrance of old times and a token of my appreciation of the important services you have rendered... I regard your pumping engine as the greatest achievement in hydraulic engineering of our time.” Signed in full. Henry R. Worthington (1817-December 17, 1880) American mechanical engineer. He has several inventions leading to the perfection of the direct steam pump. He established a pump works founded in 1845 based in Harrison, New Jersey and established a pump manufacturing plant in 1859 in New York City. He was a key founder of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1880). Worthington Pumps were used by the US Navy to pump bilge water including the USS Monitor. In addition is a extremely lengthy two page autograph letter signed by Henry Worthington to John Ericsson dated New York, Oct. 2, 1880 (just two months before his death). “.....perhaps no one of all your contemporaries has watched the manifestations of your genius with more interest than I have….I will read every word of it with emotions deepened by life long associations with its author. But what shall I say to the letter in which the works of my life is characterized as “the greatest achievement in hydraulic engineering in our time.”... Do you remember that you took me by the hand when I stood almost a boy before you with scarcely one formed idea on mechanical subjects. That you had me come over as a guest to your rooms to study under your eye and with the advantage of your voluntary instruction.....” There is much more personal content. Jon Ericsson was not autograph friendly. One of the noted “in person” autograph collectors of the day stated that in all his years of collecting, there was only one single case of failure. He was unable to acquire a signature of John Ericsson. Once he called on Ericsson’s home in 1869. Ericsson was out for the day so the collector left his album of autographs for it to be signed. The next day, back at Ericsson’s house, he met Ericsson and was told that on account of so many requests, he had to refuse the young man as he had done so with so many others. The book which weighs eleven pounds and both autograph letters signed......................SOLD      |